3-071-039 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Liverpool during the Frost: difficulties of the Mersey Ferry traffic, 1881. 'Several of the Sketches presented this week show the unusual scenes that were to be observed at Liverpool, during some days of the late severe frost. Immense quantities of floating ice were brought down the river Mersey by the ebb of the high spring tides. The Birkenhead ferry steam-boats, though of considerable size and power, had much difficulty, at times, in crossing the river; while the Rock Ferry and Tranmere service was more than once stopped. A vast numbers of sea-gulls were forced by want of food to come up the estuary and the river; and would tamely or boldly accept pieces of bread or biscuit thrown to them from the steam-boats or from the Liverpool landing-stage'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.